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Posted on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.

Rep. Mark Ouimet on scene of Dexter tornado since Thursday: 'I haven't been to bed yet'

By Ryan J. Stanton

State Rep. Mark Ouimet says he hasn't slept since a tornado touched down in the heart of his district in Dexter Thursday night.

"I arrived at about 9 o'clock last evening and I haven't been to bed yet," said Ouimet, R-Scio Township, while still on the scene shortly before 3 p.m Friday.

"I stayed up through the night with the first responders, thanking them for all the great work they're doing, and got them food and water," he said. "This morning, at day break, I had an opportunity to walk the subdivision and take a look at it firsthand.

"It's pretty devastating. It's probably about 100 homes that have been seriously damaged or demolished."

Gov. Rick Snyder met with residents and cleanup crews in the Huron Farms subdivision early Friday afternoon. Ouimet said he'd been in contact with the governor's office.

Mark Ouimet

"I've talked to the governor's office numerous times and the legal team is working on what they can do," Ouimet said. "As far as what state government can do, we need a proclamation from the county and the local government before we can get started on anything."

In the meantime, Ouimet said, many are pitching in.

"The local municipalities, the village and the township, state police, sheriff's department, seven fire departments are all working to get things done. And I think once all that initial effort is concluded, then they're looking at what the state legally can do," he said.

"The first responders and Red Cross and the United Way and Dexter Schools and the community have really done an excellent job coming together," he added. "This is something to marvel at, how people have helped their neighbors."

Ouimet said he believes many of the homes — some of them valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars — were fully insured.

Ouimet said he'll continue to do whatever he can to assist the first responders as cleanup and restoration work continues. As he spoke Friday afternoon, he said crews were putting tarps over roofs and boarding up windows as cranes lifted debris from the damaged homes into construction dumpsters.

He said he's spent the last several hours hearing "one believable story after another," such as residents who helped ensure the safety of a neighbor in a wheelchair, and people being pulled out of the rubble literally without a scratch.

"There was nobody killed and nobody injured and that's amazing when you stand there and look at what was done," he said. "That speaks well of the first responders.

"People are just thankful they got out with their lives," added Ouimet. "Their homes are completely flattened, so if you were in the basement you were OK. But if this had been at 2 o'clock in the morning and they were in bed, they wouldn't have made it."

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, said his thoughts and prayers are with the families and businesses hit by Thursday's storms.

"My staff and I are working closely with local government to keep apprised of the recovery efforts to ensure that the communities impacted have the resources they need to provide effective disaster relief," Dingell said in a statement on Friday. "I will do all I can to make sure that those affected by disasters are on a pathway to recovery."

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, who represents the district that includes Dexter, said he's thankful there are no serious injuries reported. He also said he's been in contact with the governor's office and planned on visiting the site of the disaster on Friday.

"My office stands ready to assist state and local teams with any recovery efforts," Walberg said in a statement directing residents affected by the disaster to contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Comments

Chase Ingersoll

Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:32 a.m.

This sort of event is a legislator-up-for-re-election's dream. Their only regret is that it is taking place 8 months prior to the election, rather than 8 days.
Conversely, there is a public official in Saline who is probably doing everything she can, to not think, &quot;Damn! If only that could have been Saline!&quot;
Chase Ingersoll

longtimea2er

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.

I am neither a Republican nor a constituent of Mark Ouimet, but I have known Mark and his wife for a number of years. You can be certain that Mark is out there because he believes it is the right thing to do, and he is trying to help move the wheels of government along to expedite disaster declarations. He isn't doing this for political expediency. It isn't his fault AnnArbor.com gave the story that ridiculous headline.

Sparty

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.

Goody for him .... he hasn't been to bed yet? At least he has a bed to go home to. What on earth does that have to do with anything? Just another republican turning a tragedy into a story about what he is doing rather than on the tragedy itself and how others have been hurt and impacted. Sickening.

Sparty

Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:44 p.m.

How is it aa.com's choice of headline? It's his words, making it all about him and his efforts instead of the loss and tragedy. Typical.

Steve

Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:44 a.m.

Really? Seroiusly? That was as.com's choice of a headline. I doubt Mark Ouimet was complaining because he missed sleep.
He was doing exactly what a representative should do for his district during a major crisis. Good for him. And thanks go to him. In his elected capacity he also sees to it that state resources can be directed to his district.
So Sparty.....are you actually ripping on him because you disagree with him politically? Give it a rest!

Karen John

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 8:52 p.m.

Representative Ouimet, good on you for being there for your people!

Susie Q

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.

Maybe he should stay in Dexter. He'll do less harm there than he's done in Lansing during the 14 months.

treetowncartel

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.

Good for him. I hope he isn't driving though, being tired behind the wheel is not a good thing.

Roadman

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.

I am impressed with the attention Representative Mark Ouimet has given the residents whohave suffered because of this crisis.
Your efforts are appreciated, Mark.